Oregon teacher joins Teach Plus Illinois fellowship to advocate for early education

OREGON, Ill. (WTVO) —A statewide fellowship has given an Oregon elementary teacher the chance to advocate for early education across the state. 

“I knew I wanted to teach kindergarten. I bring in these little five-year-olds that can barely stand in a line, and by the end of the year, they are reading and doing math facts,” said Cynthia Kilmer. 

Kilmer has taught at Oregon Elementary School for the last eight years. In April, she applied for a state-level leadership following in the summer. By fall, she started her Teach Plus Illinois Early Educator Policy Fellowship, a program that allows teachers working to improve Illinois education.

“I didn’t realize until it’s all typed out, I didn’t realize how much I’ve done over the years. I was really excited that I got chosen for this year because that told me this is my time. This is my time to speak up. This is my time to use my voice and to be a representative,” explained Kilmer.

During her Fellowship, she said her voice will help bring more awareness to the well-being and mental health of early childhood educators like herself.

“Every month we talk about how we are going to gather our data to show the state, what we need to do to change early childhood as a profession so we can get new people, so we can retain people, so we can prevent burnout of current people,” shared Kilmer.

As someone who experienced burnout, Kilmer said it’s important for her to be one of the pillars for change.

“Number one thing that leads to an issue is pay, right? That’s all over the place, we know that. What we’re really looking at is, besides that, what is really bringing you down, what is making you love and dread going to work every day? Is it the rules and regulations put in place? Is it lack of support,” said Kilmer.

An advocate not only for the district, but also for all schools in Illinois.

“Our biggest thing is just kind of get the ball rolling and help out the Illinois Department of Early Childhood so they can hear from the teachers in the state. Like what we need, what’s really making it difficult for people to either get into the profession or stay in the profession,” explained Kilmer.

Kilmer fellowships last till next June.